That being said, I woke up feeling tolerable this morning, although my back hurts more than it did last week. I’m hoping that my energy lasts, and doesn’t deflate like a balloon once I get moving today.

So, let’s see… I finished Lauralund yesterday. All except for a method of fastening. Olivia took some pictures of me this morning with a big, silver turtle pin on my chest to… wait a minute, I haven’t told you yet. Hehe. Lauralund’s a cardi! Yup, that’s right. I decided that since it was knitting up small, and I did want to wear it before the weather warms up, and since I wanted a cardi out of this yarn as well as Lauralund, and since I’m frequently a highly efficient and practical person (except for the times when I’m completely impractical, which also happens), I’d make them both. “Two birds with one stone” of sorts. I have a Lauralund cardi, and it’s darned cute. It is a little small, but I can still wear it. Like I was saying earlier, in the pictures (that didn’t turn out at all) Olivia took this morning, I have it fastened closed with a giant turtle pin. I think I’m going to head out to JoAnn’s later and find me some wooden toggle buttons. I’ll show you my first ever sweater for me, just not yet. However, I’ll give you a sneak peek as I introduce some swatches.

Right, so, as I was finishing almost all of my WIP’s this weekend, I started swatching for new ones.

This is the start of the flower basket shawl in koigu. The yarn is pretty. It isn’t going to be a flower basket shawl. The heavy twist in the yarn, and the flashy colors make the lace pattern indistinguishable, plus it was working up much heavier than I had hoped.

(Ooh, there it is! Can you see it in the background? Mmm, pretty Lopi.) This swatch, which I had actually done quite awhile ago, and can’t remember if you’ve seen, was worked in laceweight merino that I bought on super-mega clearance back in October. I knit it on smaller needles, and a single strand of yarn as opposed to doubled like the pattern recommends. I stopped because I wanted bigger baskets, so I’m thinking I’ll start with this yarn again, using the bigger needles and yarn doubled. I know it’s practically the same color as the one in the magazine, but I don’t really care. It’s pretty. I like it. I already have the yarn. I don’t have to mess with EVERY pattern I try.

And finally, the new project…

One of the first knit items I ever wanted to make for myself was a shrug. I haven’t yet. If you recall, I bought 6 balls of Kathmandu Aran in the most delightful mossy green color off of a sale shelf at Hilltop awhile ago. Well, I think I’ve found my project for it.

Now, although I just told you that I don’t have to mess with every pattern I knit, I am going to have to mess with this one. It’s too wide, and I think it’ll look really strange from the back, so I’m going to make it smaller. BUT, isn’t it lovely? It’s in the current Easy Knitting magazine. I think it’ll look smashing in my yummy green yarn. So I swatched.

Soooooo pretty! This is the first yarn I’ve ever used that contains Cashmere. Now granted, it’s only 5% cashmere, but hey, it’s in there. I’m going to try to whip this one out before Saturday, as Nate and I have a date, and I want to wear it.